Ellsworth Air Force Base, Readiness Building, 810 Kenny Road, Blackhawk, Meade County, SD

This structure was demolished in 1996.
Significance: The Ellsworth Air Force Base Dormitory is significant for its association with American military policy during the Cold War years of the early 1950s. During this era, the USAF made substantial improvements at the nation's domestic air bases, including major projects designed for domestic defense and air base protection. Readiness dormitories such as this one played a key role in this changing mission by providing a homelike atmosphere near the flight line where, at a moment's notice, on-duty aircraft crews could be mobilized for takeoff to protect the base from outside attack.
Survey number: HABS SD-21-B
Building/structure dates: 1952 Initial Construction
Building/structure dates: 1994 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: 1996 Demolished